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Posted on Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 5:46 a.m.

Leaving a pet in a hot car can prove to be a deadly situation

By Deb Kern

Dog being treated in the Humane Society of Huron Valley Veterinary Clinic.

Photo by Ann Edwards, HSHV Staff Member

A hot day can be deadly to a pet left in a car.

Most people are well intentioned when they take their best friend for a ride in the car, but when the temperature is over 70 degrees, it’s best if Fido stays at home.

On hot — or even warm — sunny days, the inside of a car heats up very quickly. So often people say, “But I left the windows cracked”, but the Humane Society of Huron Valley’s Animal Rescue Team can tell you first hand, leaving the windows cracked is not enough!

If you see an animal in distress or locked in a parked car and you can’t locate the owner of the car quickly, you need to take action. If you live in Washtenaw County, call the both the police department in your area and the HSHV Rescue Hotline at 734-661-3512.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving all of Washtenaw County, Canton and Plymouth, and relies solely on donations from businesses and individuals to support our community programs. The mission of HSHV is to promote responsible and compassionate care of all animals in our community.